PART 3
Fire Hazard Offences
14. Obstruction of means of escape
(1) In relation to any premises, a person commits an offence if the person—
- (a) sets out or leaves or causes to be set out or left; or
- (b) being the owner, tenant, occupier or person in charge of the premises, permits or suffers to be set out or left,
any article or thing that obstructs or may obstruct the means of escape in respect of the premises.
(2) A person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable—
- (a) on a first conviction, to a fine at level 6;
- (b) on a subsequent conviction, to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for 1 year,
and, in any case, to a further fine of $20,000 for each day during which the offence continues.
(3) In any proceedings under subsection (2), a document purporting to be a certificate signed by the Director stating that the person named in the document was on the date specified in the document convicted of an offence contrary to this section shall be admitted in evidence on its production.
(4) Unless the contrary is proved, it shall be presumed in respect of the document admitted in evidence under subsection (3)—
- (a) that it is a certificate signed by the Director; and
- (b) that the person named in the document was on the date specified in the document convicted of an offence contrary to this section.
15. Locking of means of escape
(1) A person commits an offence if the person—
- (a) secures or causes to be secured the means of escape in respect of any premises; or
- (b) being the owner, tenant, occupier or person in charge of any premises, permits or suffers to be secured the means of escape in respect of the premises,
by any lock or other device which in the event of fire or other calamity—
- (c) cannot readily and conveniently be opened from within the premises without the use of a key; or
- (d) might render escape materially more difficult.
